Government to bring new industrial policy, mining to be under public sector

Thiruvananthapuram: The government proposes to bring a new industrial policy, to simplify procedures for starting new industries and bring all important mining operations under the public sector.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced these while replying to the debate on the demand for grants for Industries in the Assembly on Tuesday.

The Chief Minister said that the draft of the new industrial policy was under preparation. Government wants to improve the ease of doing business in Kerala. The failure to implement a single window system for clearances has to be overcome and the system made transparent. There would also be a land management system for allocation of land to genuine entrepreneurs.

Mr. Vijayan announced that about 20 industrial parks would be set up along the Kochi Bangaluru industrial corridor. Existing ones would be developed further. Proposals such as high speed railway corridor, LNG pipeline and highway and basic infrastructure development would be completed at a fast pace.

He said that new project on the anvil included a life science park at Thonnackal, food park at Cherthala, engineering park at Palakkad, defence park at Ottappalam, electronic manufacturing cluster at Kakkanad and  standard design factory at Thalassery. Besides, six industrial development centres would also be set up. About 500 acres at Kannur and 900 acres at Thodupuzha would be acquired for new projects.

He said that developmental plans would be taken up for public sector Travancore Cochin Chemicals, Malabar Cements and Kerala Minerals and Metals. Steps had been taken to restart operation of cement plants of Malabar cements.  Sick units including those in the handloom sector would be revived.

Appointment of CEOs
The Chief Minister announced that transparency would be ensured in the appointment of chief executive officers of public sector companies. Public Enterprises Selection Board would be made a permanent set up for selection of top personnel. Now only, ten of the 42 public sector undertakings under the Industries Department were making profits.

He said that the transparency would be ensured in the granting of permits and licences for mining including quarrying. Rules would be implemented effectively and unauthorised mining would be checked.

He said that industrial clusters would be started in seven new areas and support provided to start-ups. Support would cover investment and technology. Help would be provided to turn ideas into products and market them. New technology, design and value addition would be adopted in the handloom sector.

He said that the IT exports from the State, which totalled one billion dollars in 2014, would go up to two billion dollars by 2018. One crore square feet of IT space was planned to be added in Technocity in Thiruvananthapurarm and Infopark in Kochi.

Later, the House adopted the demand for grants.